Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Leonid Tsukanov
[Regnum] The 81st UN General Assembly turned out to be rich in provocative statements and speeches.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom the UN podium has always been akin to a theatrical stage, stood out in particular. In a diatribe, the Israeli "hawk" lashed out at both opponents and tactical allies, criticizing them for both delusions and "political softness."
Netanyahu, however, was clearly convinced that he was right in this matter, and that most of the world's powers remained with Israel. This included the United States, which, in his view, "always sees things correctly."
However, judging by the reaction of the audience, the “absolute support” of the Jewish state in reality is much smaller in scale.
"IT'S NOT OUR FAULT, IT'S YOURS."
Netanyahu's speech at the UN was harsh even by the standards of his public rhetoric in recent years. The Israeli prime minister effectively delivered a collective rebuke to the international community.
His first act was to advocate for the American-Israeli operation against Iran, declaring that by seeking to destroy the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities, he was "saving" the rest of the world from the so-called "Ayatollah bomb."
However, for some reason, no one appreciates these efforts – or the persistent attempts to “change the Iranian government for the better.”
Notably, shortly before this, Israel's special representative to the UN, Danny Danon, approached the Iranian representative with a Starlink device and asked if he would take it with him to Tehran to "help bring about the fall of the regime." Both of these requests were ignored by the Iranian side.
European countries, primarily Great Britain and France, also received their share of criticism. Netanyahu accused them of anti-Semitism and pandering to radical forces. Meanwhile, he threw a spanner in the works at Qatar, which allegedly financed "the poisoning of the minds of Europeans," formerly "loyal friends of Israel."
Netanyahu concluded his speech with his usual reference to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He categorically rejected accusations of genocide and stated that, by striking Gaza, Israel had, on the contrary, saved the Jewish population from extermination.
The Israeli prime minister also made sure to mention the West Bank, to which his country allegedly "has a historical right." Here, he drew on biblical stories, as usual, to highlight the "unbreakable connection" of the Jewish people to the Promised Land.
THE AUDIENCE LEAVES
It's worth noting that the Israeli prime minister had to address a half-empty hall this time. As Netanyahu walked to the podium, deafening whistles and curses followed him. And as soon as the Israeli delivered his welcoming remarks, more than a hundred delegates left the hall.
This set an all-time record for silent protest at the General Assembly in recent decades. Even the previous record-breaking speech by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2010, in which he accused the United States of "profiting" from the September 11, 2001, attacks, was walked out by only 30 delegates—mostly representatives of the Arab bloc.
Not only the Arabs, but also the Europeans, Africans, and Asians refused to listen to the Israeli. Netanyahu, however, wasn't much bothered by this—at least, he didn't show it. And, casting a sarcastic glance around the podium, he suggested that the "moral cowards" follow the "offended" delegates out.
Of the major players, the Americans remained in the audience to support Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister addressed them with sincere words of gratitude, hinting between the lines that US President Donald Trump was well-deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. The American delegation applauded his words, including standing.
In addition, representatives from Argentina and the UAE listened to Netanyahu's speeches. Moreover, the latter maintained a favorable attitude toward their strategic regional ally, even despite some criticism from him—accusations of "unwillingness to act against Iran" fell on deaf ears.
Interestingly, the Russian and Chinese delegates refrained from making a public statement regarding Israel and remained in the hall during Netanyahu's speech. However, neither Moscow nor Beijing shared the Israeli prime minister's position.
And subsequently, they repeatedly emphasized their commitment to the formula “two peoples – two states,” which cannot be shaken by the expressive statements of individual politicians.
AND WHO IS THE OUTCAST HERE?
The situation surrounding Netanyahu's speech generated considerable gossip. The reaction of Europeans, who were subjected to considerable criticism from the podium by the Israeli prime minister, was limited to caustic columns and commentary in major media outlets. Meanwhile, Europe has so far chosen not to take any real political action.
Among other things, the issue of revising the preferential trade regime, which the French and Italians had alternately threatened Netanyahu with as a terrible punishment all year, was temporarily removed from Brussels' priority agenda.
They justified the decision by “the need to comprehensively assess the risks and consequences for the parties” – although in reality, it seems, the European bureaucrats wanted to avoid inappropriate parallels and new accusations of anti-Semitism.
One way or another, Europe doesn't want to make a decision anytime soon. Especially since some officials are suggesting that Israel has already "suffered" enough from the cooling of relations with the EU—for example, it has encountered difficulties in building its navy due to supply restrictions. There's no point in further damaging the relationship.
Instead, Brussels is increasingly turning its attention to the notorious “Russian threat” and seeking new ways to put pressure on Moscow – both politically and economically.
Meanwhile, the European public remains extremely agitated and demands a clear response from the authorities to the attacks from the Jewish state. Russia, from their perspective, appears to be a more cultured and flexible interlocutor. At the very least, those willing to make a public demarche against Russian representatives at the UN are tens of times fewer.
In this context, a recent statement by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin comes to mind. He previously noted that, with regard to Russia, UEFA experienced enormous political pressure to ban the club outright, with virtually no public pressure. In the case of Israel, by contrast, there was colossal public pressure for a ban, and virtually no political pressure from the authorities.
However, for now, EU elites prefer to look less to their own electorates and more to Washington's position, which is convinced that seriously offending Israel would be unfavorable for Europe.
What Netanyahu didn't say at the UN was as telling as what he did
[IsraelTimes] PM didn’t present promised new Iran intel or issue additional threats against the regime, or talk about Saudi peace, or even lavish praise on Trump. Here’s how to understand those omissions.
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